When does it get easier

[Sberry25]

I'm wondering when the withdrawals stop or at least decrease in intensity.  I smoked for 30 years and quit 14 days ago. I was able to quit using Chantix. I have so many triggers and I am miserable thinking about smoking constantly.  Just wondering when it gets easier. On the bright side, I do feel physically better. The aches and heaviness in my lower legs has went away.  That's one of the reasons I decided to quit because I think my circulation in my legs was worsening and my lung function was also declining. I'm taking the stairs at work and my breathing has greatly improved in just 2 weeks! I try to remind myself of the benefits of not smoking but it really gets difficult sometimes. 

[PrimeNumberJD]

I'm not that far ahead of you, just north of 60 days, and it is quite easy. I think my turn came around 30 days where most days were easy, and only a couple were hard. I haven't had a good hard day in a while! 

The ease will come, you will get there, just keep on chugging along! If you keep a journal, or log your craves, you may start to see the trend before it happens, here was mine. 

[Giulia]

Really interesting graph.  Is that from EX?

[PrimeNumberJD]

No, an app I have on my phone. I'm compiling my journal from it now. Has a journal plus you are able to log each craving. I didn't start until 3 days into my quit. My spike coincided with the beginning of my training event. Smoke Free, quit smoking now and stop for good - Apps on Google Play 

Another screen I like 

If you spend $5, it has daily missions for the first 30 days,  and then weekly missions through 60 days (which revisit the first 30 days). Some of the missions are stupid. I do like the application though. 

It also has a money saved dash board. I've saved over $500 in just over 2 months. The money spent is on rewards. I utilize it as a bank account of sorts and don't feel I need to justify the use as long as it doesn't go towards nicotine. 

[Giulia]

Cool!  Thanks for the link!  Just added it to:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/docs/DOC-1820-helpful-blogs-discussions-comments-videos-links-inf... 

[elvan]

I so wish that we could give you an exact time when it will get easier but all we can do is to promise you that if you stick with your quit, it WILL get easier.  This is a journey and we all got a bit impatient when we started but you are SO LUCKY that you are feeling those improvements already,  I remember reading blogs like this one and feeling seriously envious of the writers.  Why?  I smoked for so long that I never felt those improvements, I have COPD and it is progressive and irreversible.  It really rules my life.  There are things I cannot do because I cannot breathe, I tried to quit many times in the past but I always lost my quits because I did not have this site and the education about this addiction, the support from people who had been exactly where I was, and my own commitment not to smoke again, no matter what.  I had to accept that smoking never really did anything FOR me, only TO me.  That acceptance really helped.  I used the mantra NOPE that I got from this site, Not One Puff Ever.  I came here every morning and every evening and oftentimes in between if I had a chance.  I read blogs, I commented, I asked for advice and I listened when it was offered.  I knew that these people had something I wanted...FREEDOM and I also knew that they were willing and able to share with me how they got there, I leaned hard on everyone who would allow it and I have been smoke free for over 5 1/2 years now.  It has not been without its challenges BUT it has been so worth it.  You CAN do this, there are lots of us who know EXACTLY what you are going through.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen